Who Am I?

A nobody; a nitwit; a pilot; a motorcyclist; a raconteur; a lover...of life - who loves to laugh, who tries to not take myself (or anything) too seriously...just a normal guy who knows his place in the universe by being in touch with my spiritual side. What more is there?

18 April 2012

The Trayvon Martin Case, Part III

People are funny, especially those on the internet, especially nitwit helicopter pilots in south Louisiana with internet access: That's always a dangerous thing.

My latest post on the Trayvon Martin shooting elicted two comments, ostensibly from two different anonymous responders, but really from just one. Look, if you don't have the balls to leave your name when you make comments, that's fine. Be ball-less, I don't care.

This particular ball-less commentator took me to task for my last post (the one about that USA TODAY reporter), incorrectly assuming that I've taken sides in the Trayvon Martin shooting.

"Anonymous Nitwit #2" wrote:A black reporter tries to slant an article in favor of black guy. A white guy comes down on the side side of the guy who killed him. What a f****** surprise!

Okay, you anonymous nitwit, I haven’t come down on either side in this case. I just think that “the media”…ALL of the media aren't being objective, not just one USA TODAY reporter. Oh, and she didn't "try" to slant the story, she DID. Even though the correct information is out, Whatserface Alcindor *still* misrepresents certain things to make Zimmerman look bad and Martin look completely innocent. I find this aggravating and insulting.

"Anonymous Nitwit #1" says, “A guy was shot and killed. Has it occured to you that maybe we should try and figure out what the hell happened?”

“We?” What, you got a mouse in your pocket? WE should try to find out what happened? How the hell would *I* know what happened, much less *you*? Maybe "we" should rely on the media for our “facts?” Well they have so far not proven themselves to be reliable in that regard.

Stuff just doesn't add up. It seems to me that the story that Martin had just nipped out to the corner store for a box of Skittles and a bottle of ice tea is weak. There are no neighborhood stores nearby. So that does matter. What *was* he doing out at that hour?

Witnesses reported that during the altercation, it was Zimmerman who was on the ground underneath Martin as they fought. Zimmerman had injuries consistent with being in a fight. Martin had no such injuries (save for a bullet hole). I know one thing: Nobody...NOBODY is going to get into a fistfight with a guy holding a gun. I don't think that even Trayvon Martin was that stupid. This means that Zimmerman pulled his gun after he and Martin went to the ground.

And remember, Zimmerman was just doing his job as Neighborhood Watch guy. He was legally authorized to carry his gun, and he might well have been within the bounds of his job in stopping Martin and asking what he was up to. But we don’t know that, do we? Everyone just assumes that Zimmerman was some racist gun-nut out to kill a black guy that night.

People die…get killed…every day in this country. But the media has focused on this Trayvon Martin case like a laser. Yet the story has not been reported accurately; they’ve gotten a lot of it wrong. They’ve jumped to conclusions that aren’t necessarily logical, reporting things as "facts" that may or may not be. Why, just the other day I even heard a reporter on NPR state, “…and the police told Zimmerman to stop following Martin.” That has been repeated so often now that people just assume it is true. And it reinforces in people's minds that Zimmerman was on the hunt!

Personally, I don’t know whether Zimmerman is guilty or not…or even what he might be guilty of. We are all, in theory, innocent until PROVEN guilty. I honestly have not made up my mind. But I do know that he’s not getting a fair deal here. What's troubling is that so few people seem to care

3 comments:

Yeah you're right. A lot of people go to jail because people think they are what media tries to project they are. Sad truth. Facts are not facts not unless they are proven to be real. Responsible journalism should be practiced as it is a must for the media.

James David teaches people how to buy single engine airplanes & has a passion for the Cessna 140

You are right on the money, Bob. This thing has taken on a life of its own for so many reasons. Best I can tell, the prosecutor seems to be a prudent, reasonable person, unfazed by all the hype. Zimmerman's lawyer seems somewhat sensible as well. Maybe this is the beginning of a fair and just resolution.